Composition of feed pellet and methods for production

Abstract

A composition and production of feed pellets are provided. In some embodiments, biomass is milled to less than around ⅜ inch. Biomass may include corn cobs and corn stover in (substantially) equal proportions, or may include a minimum of about 20% corn cobs. The biomass, dried distiller's grains with solubles, distillers solubles, and binders are mixed. In some embodiments, the ratio of ingredients is, on a w/w dry matter basis,: about 30-50% milled biomass, about 45-65% dried distillers grains, less than about 6% distillers solubles, and about less than around 2.5% binder. Once mixed, the ingredients may be conditioned using steam and extruded through a die of between ¼ and 3.5 inches in size. The pellets are cooled. The final pellets include about 13-21% protein, about 4-9% fat, about 25-45% neutral detergent fiber, and about 5-20% moisture. Further, the pellets possess a pellet durability index of greater than around 94%.

1 . A feed pellet, comprising:
 about 30-50% biomass on a w/w dry matter basis;   about 45-65% dried distillers grains on a w/w dry matter basis;   less than about 6% distillers solubles on a w/w dry matter basis; and   less than about 2.5% binder on a w/w dry matter basis.   
     
     
         2 . The feed pellet of  claim 1 , wherein the dried distillers grains comprise at least one of dried distillers grains with solubles, low fat dried distillers grains, and high protein dried distillers grains. 
     
     
         3 . The feed pellet of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass comprises corn cobs and corn stover. 
     
     
         4 . The feed pellet of  claim 3 , wherein the biomass comprises a ratio of about 50% corn cobs and about 50% corn stover. 
     
     
         5 . The feed pellet of  claim 3 , wherein the biomass comprises at least about 20% corn cobs, and the remainder is corn stover. 
     
     
         6 . The feed pellet of  claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises at least one of molasses, lignin sulfate, and sodium bentonite. 
     
     
         7 . The feed pellet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 about 13-21% protein;   about 4-9% fat;   about 25-45% neutral detergent fiber; and   about 5-20% moisture.   
     
     
         8 . The feed pellet of  claim 1 , further comprising a pellet durability index of greater than 94%. 
     
     
         9 . The feed pellet of  claim 1 , further comprising a densification improvement of greater than about 28% dried distillers grains with solubles and greater than about 100% corn stover. 
     
     
         10 . A method for generating a feed pellet, comprising:
 milling biomass to less than ⅜ inch in size;   mixing pellet ingredients, wherein the pellet ingredients comprise about 40% milled biomass on a w/w dry matter basis, about 55% dried distillers grains on a w/w dry matter basis, about 4.2% distillers solubles on a w/w dry matter basis, and about less than 1% binder on a w/w dry matter basis;   conditioning the mixed pellet ingredients with steam;   extruding the conditioned pellet ingredients through a die to generate pellets, wherein the die is between ¼ inch and 3.5 inches in size; and   cooling the pellets.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the dried distillers grains comprise at least one of dried distillers grains with solubles, low fat dried distillers grains, and high protein dried distillers grains. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the biomass comprises corn cobs and corn stover. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the biomass comprises a ratio of about 50% corn cobs and about 50% corn stover. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the biomass comprises at least about 20% corn cobs, and the remainder is corn stover. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the binder comprises at least one of molasses, lignin sulfate, and sodium bentonite. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pellets comprises about 17% protein, about 6.8% fat, about 35% neutral detergent fiber, and about 12% moisture. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pellets comprises a pellet durability index of greater than 94%. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the conditioning the mixed pellet ingredients comprises supplying steam at about 175 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the conditioning the mixed pellet ingredients comprises supplying steam for about 15 seconds.